Tweezers



May 28, 1929. F DQWLING w 1,714,593

TWEEZERS Filed Oct- 14, 1927 ikw INVENTOR vide an improved Patented May 28, 1929.

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Application filed October 14, 1927. Serial Nb. 226,134.

This invention relates to tweezers and similar devicesfor removing hairs and the like, and has for one of its objects the provision of an improved tweezers having means to stretch the skin at said hair. r A further object of the invention it to provi do an improved hair tw-eezers'haviiig means for autmatically retracting same to remove a hair, and means to press or stretch the skin away from said hair. i

A further object of the invention is to pro vide an improved hair tweezers that permits practically painless removal of a hair, and with a maximum of safety, and which can be worked with the greatest rapidity and ease by the operator, and is comparatively inconspicuous in its action.

A further object of the invention is to prohair tweezers freely mounted for movement on supporting means, so that said tweezers can move rearward on 1111- intended contact of the tweezer jaws with said skin.

A further object of the invention is to pro-- vide a tweezers having in'i iiroved means for retracting same to remove a hair.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for stretching the skin at a hair to facilitate the removal of said hair by a tweezers. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved tweezers, or the like, having skin stretching or pressing means which can be actuated independently of the operation of the tweezers, so that the skin may be stretched or pressed to any desired extent. p j

A further object of thefinv ention' is in the provision of an improved tweezers having skin stretching or pressing means that produce a maximum stretching or-pr'essing action at the instant of retraction of the hair.

A fu ther object of the invention is to pro videan improved tweezers having skin stretching or pressing means operative as a unit with the tweezers for maximum celerity and ease of the operator, and which are also separately operative if desired to permit the judgment of the operator to suitvarying condi-' tions.

A further objectofthe invention is to prov id e an improved tweezers h avin g skin s tretchingimeans, or othermeans, as set forth, wherein the actuation of said tweezers is cause'dby a movement of the operations hand toward the skin acted upon, this particularlyfacilitating the operation of the instrument and the accomplishment of the objects herein set forth. 1 1

It is to be understood that while the term tweezers is used herein yet the invention may clearly embracedevices of other types, such, for 1nstance, as blackhead removers. Furthermore that said skin stretching jmeans have necessarily a pressing action againstthe skin, and contact same, in the manner of a supporting or guiding means for the tweezers or other device. These different relations are more definitely set forth in the following claims.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part pointed out hereinafterh The drawing illustrates a possible embodiment of the invention, the scope whereof will be indicated in the claims.

Figure '1 is a view in elevation, with'a part broken away, of a tweezers embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View of certain details. v

Figures 3, {t and 5 are enlarged fragmentary, diagrammatic views of cam mechanism in different positions. I i

Figure 6 is a view in elevation of an embodiment of the invention illustrating a modification, with parts in section.

Figures 7 and 8 are fragmentary views in section of details of said modification in di fferent positions of operation.

Figure 9 is a view of'certain details'of' invention taken on line 9-9 of- Figure 6.

Figure 10 1s a view in elevation, with parts res PATENT OFFICE} I in section, of a modification of the invention.

Figure 11 is a view in section taken approximately on line 1111 of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary View of a detail. v

' Figure 13 is a of Figure 10. V v

Figure 14 is a view similarto Figure 13 but with the tweezers closed. v p I: Referring in detail to the drawings,'15 denotes a tweezers embodying the invention. Said tweezers is seen to comprise a tweezer sectionalviewon line 13-13 member'l6 having a pair of side portionsl'? v connected together at their upper ends and terminating at their lower ends in' jaws 18. Said tweezer member 16 is mounted on a" supporting frame 19 including a pair of upright membersjor guides 20, to which is secured a'handpiece 21. The tweezer arms 17 extend tweezer member and said frame.

along the frame members 20, preferably in parallel relation thereto, and the tweezer member is movable along said frame 19. For

this purpose, the guide bars 20 may be pro-' vided wlth upper and lower slots 22 and through which each tweezer arm extends in opposite directions, thereby interlocking the The length of the slots 22 and 23,however, permits the desired relative vertical movement of the tweezer member on said frame. A compression spring 24acting between the finger piece 21 and theupper portion of the tweezer member 16 retains said tweezer member in its downward position. However, since the proportion .of the parts is such that said tweezer member is free to move laterally, as shown in Figure 1, said tweeezer member constitutes a floating device which can readily be adj usted or 'movedto desired position, against the stabilizing force of the spring 24. e

Associated, or separately mounted skin stretching means 25 are provided, to stretch the skin, preparatory to removing a hair. Preferably said means consist of a plurality of'd-epending fingers 26 which are pivotally mounted on the guidebars 20 at 27. Said fingers are provided with friction shoes 29, whichmay be of rubber, and replaceable. The ends of said fingers are normally below the jaws 18, thus forming a spacing means, permitting the tweezers tobe properly direct ed and protecting the skin against injurious or unintended contact of the tweezer jaws with said skin. Further safeguard in this respect is provided in that the spring 24; is

so weak as to permit the tweezer member to readily recede along the support 19 on unintended contact with the skin. I

e The fingers 26 are inclined with their lower ends away from each other, so that on eserting downward pressure on said fingers at points 27, in any convenient manner, for instance, at 21, said shoes 28 will be caused to move apart from each other, while the arms 26 pivot in opposite directions. Thus the skin about a hair or splinter, can be effectively stretched. Simultaneously, the support 19 and tweezer member 16 are lowered'so thatthe tweezer jaws 18 are substantially in contact with the skin. The tweezer member can now be manually closed and retracted to remove the hair, and since the tweezer arms 17 are external of the support 19, this can be conveniently accomplished.

The skin stretching means serve to render a hair, or the like, more easily accessible for inspection, and removal, particularly if said hair is in a scar, or other out of the way place. They furthermore exert a downward pressure on the skin, so as to facilitate removal of the hair, and render same practically painless, since'the skin is not pulled upward itself on removing the hair. By

forming'th'eshoe's 28 of arcuate or cam forskin in close and constant proximity to said hair, since there is a rolling action of the shoes toward said hair.

For automatic closing of the tweezermemher, and retraction of same to remove a hair, cam mechanism 29 is provided, actuated by the fingers 26, through the pivotal movement thereof. There is a cam unit at each side of the tweezers, so that both sides of the tweezer member are actuated simultaneously. Each unit includes on finger 26 a vertically acting follower 30 and a laterally acting follower 31, for the cams 32', 33, 3 1 and 35 on the tweezer member. Each cam unit thus extends and is movable through a slot 23, and the follower 30 of each unit acts on cam 32 to support the tweezer member 16 against downward movement by the spring. The follower 31 of each unit closes the tweezer jaws by acting on cam 33 to cause amovement of the cam actuated portions 36 shown by arrow A of Figure 1-. While the tweezers closing the follower 30 moves along the cam 32, which is formed with the axis at 27 as a center. In this way the tweezer member 1s supported at constant elevation relative to support 19.

The follower 30 then rides along cam 34: to

support 1.9, and the tweezers will nevertheless be retracted sufficiently to remove the hair.

The fingers 26 may be made of integral construction with said followers, and tongues 37 struck therein engage thepintles27 to pivotally mount said fingers thereon.

To adjust the normal or initial elevation of tweezer member 16 relative to support 19,

a thumbscrew 38 at the top of said member is operative to increase the compression on spring 24. This will cause a slight flexure in the follower support 39 and a consequent downward movement of the tweezer member relative to said support.

To provide a balanced initial position of the fingers 26, the tweezer portions 36 are formed with abutment portions 40 limiting inward movement of the lower ends of said fingers. V i I In Figures 6 to 9 is shown a modification of the invention, in which a support 41 is provi'dedfoi a tweezer member 42. The support includes a handpiece 43 having threaded shank portions 44 and 45 bearing l'ocknuts 46, 47. Mounted on said shank portions 44,

45 is a frame 48 and a tweezer member 49. A l

spring 50in shank 44 is positioned between the upper end portions 51, 52 of said frame and said tweezer member, and a spring 53 i on the same shank acts between nut 47 and T be actuated by finger .ly bowed at said portion 52 of said tweezermember.

The lower ends of the frame 48 are outward- 54 and provided with removable rubber shoes 55, which are normally beneath the jaws 56 of the tweezer member. Byexerting pressure on the support 41, the skin is stretched and the tweezer jaws approach the skin. The tweezer member may, however, pieces 57 formed on said member adjacent to the jaw, so that the member can be moved vertically, or'late'rally,'or closed independently of said support.' It may be understood,'however, thatthese features may be used in conjunction with one another. 1

For automatic closing and retraction of the tweezer member, the latter is bowed at each side to provide cams 58 and 59 which are received in slots 60 in the frame 48. A collar 51 vertically movable on said frame, onbe-' ing moved downward by the hand of the operator engages cams 58 to move the tweezer member downward and likewise to close same. Meanwhile cams 59 engage the lower ends of slots 60 to move the bowed portions 54 outward to cause the shoes to stretch the skin. Figure 7 illustrates the position at the end of such movement, the collar 51 being now engaged over the ends of cams 58. Spring 53 is now efiective to retract the tweezer member, with the cam 58 clearing said collar, which however, retains the tweezers closed during retraction. Figure 8 illustrates the position after retraction of the tweezer member, and on moving the collar upward, the device is restored to the position shown in Figure 6. Theskin stretchingaction will be seen to increase to a maximum at the instant of retraction.

The cam portions 58, 59 may of course, be engaged directly by the hand of the operator for closing of the tweezers or retraction 0' same, as is clearly apparent from the construction, and may be operated independently of the skin stretching means, as the latter can be actuated solely by downward pressure.

The great convenience of the invention in its various forms is seen in that actuation may be caused by a downward movement toward the skin. Moreover the body of the instrument can be nipulation afforded by the fingers of the same hand.

Figures 10 to 14 illustrate a further modification of the invention, in which a support is provided for a tweezer member 66 having jaws 67 spaced from the skin by the rubber shoes 68. The legs 69 of said support are curved in cross section to receive collar 70 for angular movement. The arms of tweezers 66 are provided with legs 71 engaging in the legs 69, owing to v ing curved for skin, forthe purpose set forth.

held in the hand, and mastretching means,- a support for said tweezers openings or .slots 72 formed in the legs 69 and slightly projecting therethrough. Said arms are formed with projections 7 3 adapted to be engaged by similar projections or lugs 74 formed on collar 70 when the collar is moved angularly, so as to effect the closing of the tweezers. In normal or initial position, the collar 70 is above the projections 7 3. On moving said collar downward, it engages the lugs 71 and depresses the tweezer member 66 till the jaws come adjacent to the skin. The collar 70 is then moved angularly to close the tweezers. The projecting ends of the lugs 71 will now terminate within the outer suface of the convexity of said legs, so that the lugs'71 will be released from the collar. The tweezer member will now be retracted by the spring 75. During such retraction the projections 74, 75 are in engagement to retain the tweezers closed. The collar is then turned to the right or the left to permit the tweezers to open, and raised to initial position as shown in Figure 10. The operation described may be independent of or in conjunction to any desired extent with the skin stretching means.

I claim: 1, Mechanism comprising a device to act on a particle on a skin, and coaxial means including relatively movable jaws to stretch said skin at said particle.

2. A device comprising a simultaneously coacting means jaws movable apart to press the skin laterally from the hair.

3. Mechanism comprising a device to remove a particle 'from a skin, and angular. movable means coactingwith said device, said means having shoes to engage the skin to stretch same at said particle, saidshoes bea rolling action on the skin. 4.--Means to stretchthe skin about a hair, said means having relatively movable frictional skin engaging shoes, said means being actuated by. pressing the sametoward the hair tweezers, and

5. Mechanism comprlslng a device to re' move a particle from a skin, fingers engaging the skin at said particle and spacing the device from said skin, and means engaging said fingers and said deviceso that said device can be moved downward to the skin, and said.

fingers simultaneously spread to stretch the skin. j I

6. ,Mechan sm comprising a tweezers, skin including jaws movable apart, and meansto retract said tweezers relative to said support.

7. In mechanism of the character de-. scribed, a tweezers, skin stretching means as sociated therewith, a support for said tweezers, and means to close the tweezers and retract same relative to said support.

8. Mechanism comprising a tweezers, and means supporting the tweezers for rearward including movement of the same on unintended contact of the jaws of the tweezers with the skin. I l

9, In mechanism of the character described, a tweezers, skinstretching means, and unitary meansfor simultaneously closing the tweezers and actuating said stretching means.

10. In combination, a device for removing a particle from a skin, skin stretching means, and means to actuate saiddevice and said skin stretching means, for a Variable amount of skin stretching action bythe latter.

11. In mechanism of the characterv described, a tweezers to remove a hair, a support 'it'or said tweezers inciudingjaavs movable apart, and means mounted on the support to close the tweezers- I v 12. In mechanism of the character described, a tweezers, skin stretching means, and means actuated toward the tweezer jaws to cause the first-mentioned means to function and to bring the tweezer jaws close to the skin. V

13. In mechanism of the character described, a tweezers to remove a hair, skin stretching means, other means movable in a plane transverse to the tweezers to close the same, and means coaeting with the skin stretching means toretraet the tweezers.

, 14. In mechanism of the character set forth a tweezers, a support for the tweezers resting on the skin, and cam means carried by the-support and coacting with the jtweezer arms to close the tweezers.

15. In mechanism of the character set forth a tweezers to remove a hair, means to contact the skinat said hair, and means coacting with and movable with respect to the first mentioned means to close the tweezers. 16. In combination, a device to remove a particle from a skin, and movable jaws to press on the skin at said particle at variable distances apart about, the particle and to stretch the skin.

17. In mechanism of the character set forth, a tweezers to remove a hair, means to press on the skin at said hair, and means. coacting' with and movable with respect to the first mentioned means to retract the tweezers,

18. In combination, a tweezers, skin stretching means, and means actuated towardthe skin to cause said stretching means to function.

19. In combination, a support for a device to act on a particle on a skin, and skin stretching means including relatively movable jaws associated with said support to space said device from the skin, said device being floatingly mounted on the support. I v

20. In mechanism of, the character de-' scribed, a device to remove a particle from a skin, means to contact said skin, and adjustable means coacti-ng with said device and the first mentioned means to space said device at any desired distance from said skin.

21, Mechanismcomprising skin stretching means having jaws movable apart, a device to remove a particle from said skin, means coacting with said device and the first mentioned means to actuate same as a unit, and means to actuate said device separately.

22. In a device of the-character described, a mechanism for removing a particle from a skin, means for pressing on said skin, and a support for said deviceand means, said support including jaws movable apart, said device being floatingly mounted on said support. I s

23. A device ofthe character described, in eluding a tweezers 0t U-iiorm, a support "for the tweezers of U-form, said supportbeing adapted to rest on the skin and stretch the same, andmeans interconnecting the tweezers and the support at the crotchof each. a

24.. A device of the character described, inchiding a tweezers, a support for the tweezers having a plurality of arms adapted to rest on the skin with the jaws of the tweezers spaced from the skin, said arms being movable apart at an angle to stretch the skin and lower the tweezers toward the skin.

25. A device including tweezers, a sur aortfor the tweezers havingplurality oi arms adapted to rest on the skin, said arms being movable apart to stretch the skin, and. a ring onthe-support having cam coaction with the sides of the tweezers,-said ring being rotatable about the axis ofthe tweezers to close the same by the cam coaction aforesaid.

26. A'device including a tweezers, a support tl]616f01,$21l d tweezers and support bein both of U-form, meansv interconnecting the tweezers and the support at their 'crotches, said means including resilient means causing the tweezers to be flo'atin l "mounted on the su port, the arms :OI the support resting on the skin and being movableapart to stretch the skin. 7

In testimony I FRANCIS J. DOWLING j whereof I :afiix my signature. 

